New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-27
LAND T.iY4TION.
THE QUESTION or UNIMPROvro PROPERTY THAT
is HELp HIGH AND TAXED LOW.


Is HELp HIGH AND TAXED LOW.
TO tks EGif4r or The TrfbunG
SIR Your editorial IN to-day's paper on the subject
OF land tt,a.ion have read with interest. Nothing
am SIRE In the power OF legislation so promote
the welfare and hapI of the people wise and
equitable system Of taxation. Men are now agiCated
questions OF import relating to the tenure
OF tho land. and there who demand paternd
system Of go ernment Instead Of "a government for
the people and by the rcorle."
A has ten thousand acres Of land which the plough
has touched The neIghbOrhood has been gradu-
ally settled up, and Is urged cut up his tract and
sell IT, lie has been offered ten times what the land
cost him, but-"No; land Is going up" To say that
A has right TO hold HIS property Is absurd He
has the right and the law justly protects him In It.
But who pays for this protectioni Does pay for
it, I venture to say that In the vast majority OF
he not lie is actually protected In holding
this largo bog Of unimrroved land largely at the cx
pcnse OF those who have laborcd to cultivate their
own land or who have no land to cultivate A does
not bear his burden Of taxation with his fellow men.
ID Is sufficient for him say that his land Ia unpro-
ductlve-that he derives income from IL and taxes
are made merely nominal for him. Meantime he
counts the Immense pront which q sale would give
him and when has really been earned for him by tho
settlement and improvement Of other properties and
by the labor Of other hands than his. Yet 3 ana his
fellows are anxious to buy land for cultivation and
willing to pay fair price-nay high price 0ut
will not sell he will wait for the boom" which
he thinks ts coming. Whilo do not question
As rg.l to hold, get there under the clrcum-
s.snces 10 be an element VI selfshnesr, lack OF
consideration for tho welfare Of others which every
fair MINDED condemns Indeed, tho tmc may
como when people who cannot buy land TO earn
living for themselves and their families viii cry out
against A a. unjust, and demand that he shall no
'Onger have the protection OF law In holding Immense
OIertes for otner use than To shelter Wild
alta Anh all hat
element of natural justice In such demand set we
law abiding peoile end VIC insist tha' every
shall be fully protected In his rights OF person
and property
But. sir, there IL a way out of this difficulty
believe which Is lust and equitable " = bear ss
same protection as others-lot him pay for It Why
should and be taxed TO prvtect A, VINO IL
already enriched by their tabor, Nay more, u
will hold his vast possessions unimproved let hom
be taNod at length any luxury would be taxed
indeed taxation should not stop even there, Tor other
existence, as thls docs Lot this nnimproved ano
then W taxed finally the greatest OF iuxures
Let " not however Interfere with any vested ush|
Such change a. this must 90 gradual Give every
fair notice and ample unse " 'eh or improve
OILS land that no man De injured thereby out u
improved let the take. DO erabuaIl, Increased on
such property BY slow but steady and regular
increment
This plan II properly carried out unoer suitable
and judcous safeguards would lnlure no one'
while I. would neIp men IN al tni' prosa 'sna 10
estimate Land would everywhere DO cut up int
farms, and every acre would be cultivated to AVOID the
only tho very ncb could AFFORD the luxury Of I'M.
improved property aud the poo, man l.Aes wpule
three generation tho Government will have acquired
the title TO most Of the unimpioved real estate ana
EUery man vtll b. .bo, literally TO sit dnder his
on' ee'Ond any S'''n on tho aSe S II tho sAiA
Nasion Nous. brooklyn. sept IL, 1851